Chapter 20 #3
Tanner glared at Caden, about to say more, when Violet ran in through the door.
“I got to play with Boo again, and I helped feed the horses, and we got them all saddled up. I want Daddy to go riding with me. Can you, Daddy, please?” Her pleading eyes focused on Tanner, and April could almost feel all the tension in his body fade away as a huge smile split his face.
That was the first time she’d called him ‘Daddy,’ and April didn’t miss how affected he was by it.
“I’d love to, Darlin’.” Tanner stood and followed her to the door, then turned back to Caden. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. April can give you whatever you need to run the test. As for that other thing you said, find another way. Now, I’m going riding with my daughter.”
April couldn’t hold back her own smile. Violet had called Tanner ‘Daddy.’ She’d never called Ned anything but by his name.
“Have fun,” April called after them, then turned back to Caden.
“You can’t imagine how happy it makes me that Tanner is her father.
She finally has a chance at a normal and happy life. ”
Caden sighed, setting his mug down. “You did good, April. You did good. Even under the circumstances she was raised, that is one happy and well-adjusted little girl. I don’t think that would’ve happened if it hadn’t been for you and all your hard work with her.”
April appreciated the kind words, but more than anything she just wanted all this to be over, and to know without a doubt that her sister’s little girl was finally going to be safe and happy. “Thanks,” she said. “Would you like to join us for some horseback riding?”
“No, I need to get to the office, but first, let me follow you over to Tanner’s place so I can collect their DNA.
I also stopped by your apartment last night and picked up some of your things.
I grabbed what I could, and I know Hallie is already organizing the women to make a trip out here.
They’re planning to bring more stuff for you and Violet. ”
“Thank you. And that’s very kind of them.”
Caden nodded. “You’re family now, April. Both you and Violet.”
April wasn’t sure how to respond. It had been a long time since she’d felt like she was part of a family.
With Casey gone and her mom all but gone, too, she’d often felt like she was all alone in the world.
Just her and Violet. She didn’t even realize how lonely she’d been until after meeting Tanner, and then his friends, and now his family.
She loved that Violet had all these people to love and protect her, and she selfishly hoped they saved a little of all that love for her, too.
Half an hour later, Caden had gotten what he needed, and dropped off several bags of her things, including her old laptop.
It seemed like years had passed since she’d last seen it, and not just barely a day.
She stared at it for a long moment before turning it on and connecting to Tanner’s Wi-Fi.
She had a hunch about something that she’d put off looking into, but now with Violet safe and having fun with Tanner, April knew it was time.
She pulled up a new browser window and typed a name into the search bar: Stephanie Sinclair.
Thousands of hits opened. April clicked on the first few.
Two of them were old news stories, giving details about the girl’s injuries and the conditions under which she was found.
Another link was to an old website that looked like it belonged to a research lab, but Stephanie’s name only appeared once on it, and April didn’t think it was the same Stephanie.
Then she input the other name that had been on her mind lately. Lana Murphy.
Thousands of other links popped up in the search.
April clicked on the first few. The news articles were sad and informative, but none of them offered any details that the public didn’t already know.
She’d have to ask Tanner about it later, but if her intuition was right, then April knew exactly who was behind those girls’ kidnappings and murders.
April closed her laptop and headed back outside.
Still lost in thought, she almost missed Tanner and Violet riding atop the biggest horse she’d ever seen in her life.
Violet sat in front, nestled between Tanner’s legs, her back to his front, and his arms guarding her on either side, no doubt so she wouldn’t fall.
Violet waved to her and she waved back with a big smile.
But it was the heat in Tanner’s blue eyes that licked over her skin like a blaze, warming her from the inside out.
April swallowed hard, imagining his big, tan arms being wrapped around her, then tipped her head back, catching a light breeze in her hair.
If he was going to look at her like that, she would happily give him something to look at.
To her satisfaction, it worked instantly.
His eyes darkened and his smile faded into an expression she couldn’t quite read.
But she definitely wanted to see more of it. And more of him.